Toni Vaz, an actor-turned-pioneering stunt performer who went on to found theNAACP Image Awards, had died.
Growing up in New York City, Vazs Barbados-native mother wouldnt let her watch movies.
But when she came of age, Vaz headed to Hollywood.
Toni VazMPTF
… And we had very little pay for it.
But today were doing much better.
Introducing Vazs Founder Award, Yvette Nicole Brown called her a true Black innovator.
Thats when the NAACP Image Awards was born.
It gave us a platform to see each other the way we see ourselves.
… [Vaz] was saddened by the quality of roles given to Black actors.
So she took action.
She and other fought to change our image, and thus the NAACP Image Award were born.
Vaz also appeared prominently in the organizations 100th anniversary promotional campaign across Los Angeles.
